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Maple Ridge Chrysler owner Ian Speckman called him “the luckiest guy in the world.”

This is not the first vehicle Franz Prokop, the grand prize winner of the Rotary Duck Race, has won. The former Maple Ridge councillor previously won a Suzuki in a Surrey hospital foundation lottery.

An hour after learning he had won the Jeep today (Sunday), Prokop said he was “excited” and “happy” but said he’d need some time to decide whether to keep it.

“My better half would to like to have the Jeep,” Prokop said.

The vehicle is a 2012 Jeep Wrangler 4X4, worth $25,995. It was donated to the second annual charity Duck Race by Maple Ridge Chrysler.

Prokop, a realtor with Macdonald Realty, said he likes the Jeep – and its bright yellowy-orange colour.

“I bought the ticket to support the Rotary,” Prokop said, adding that he used to be a Rotarian.

For the second year in a row, the two local Rotary Clubs – Meadowridge and Haney – organized this duck race with 10,000 duck tickets up for sale with profits benefitting local youth organizations.

Of the 10,000 available ducks, about 8,800 were sold, netting local groups in excess of $88,000.

That was about $16,000 more raised this year than in its inaugural year when about 7,200 rubber ducks floated down the Alouette River.

This year, groups that signed up sold tickets at community events – for example, Davie Jones principal Stuart Richardson was selling tickets at Country Fest to benefit his school.

Last year, Rotarians sold about 50 per cent of the duck race tickets, but this year, the recipient youth groups sold about 80 per cent of the tickets, estimated Bob Shantz, head event organizer.

Proceeds from tickets sold by Rotarians will be distributed evenly among the various groups.

Prokop bought a few tickets here and there from the various groups selling during the past few months, and he guesses he purchased 25 tickets for the 2012 charity event.

Shantz reminded people at Maple Ridge Park for Sunday’s race that all proceeds from the tickets go directly to youth organizations – with no overhead costs.

“There’s not a penny that the Rotary keeps,” he said, calling the duck race “a shining example of our community partnerships.”

Second prize, a luxury cruise for two aboard Holland America Lines, went to Alanna Wadhwani.

Third prize, a household furniture and appliance package provided by Fuller Watson, went to Andrea Buckley.

Fourth prize, a weekend stay in Whistler and apparel gift certificate from Maple Ridge’s Mark’s Work Wearhouse location, went to Christie Goncalves.

Fifth prize, two rounds of golf for four, including a golf cart at Meadow Gardens Golf Course, and went to T. Thompson.

Sixth prize, a 32-inch flat screen TV provided by Audio Video Unlimited at Haney Sewing & Sound, went to Brian Daniel-Scott.